Archive By Section - Sports History

Eighty years ago, on December 18, 1934, Manteca High's basketball team scored a victory over the St. Mary's High quintet in Stockton. The Buffaloes came out on top by a score of 33 to 23. Milo Candini had 14 points for Manteca, with Harold Reynolds taking 11.

Fifty years ago, on December 16, 1964, the surprising Manteca High Buffaloes rolled to their second straight Valley Oak League win by posting a 69-62 win over St. Mary's High of Stockton. The locals were led by the scoring of Mike Hopper with 23 points, while Mike Iribarren had 19 points.

Forty years ago, on November 17, 1974, seven years of frustration for East Union High came to a crunching end as the undefeated Lancers pounded out a 30-13 victory over a game, but outmanned, Manteca High football team. It was the tenth straight win of 1974 for Coach Vern Gebhardt's Union Roaders. Fullback Doug Swift rolled up 156 yards and three touchdowns to pace the victors. His efforts gave him 1,013 yards for the season. EU's Ron Hamamoto passed to Mark Trout for the first Lancer score and a few moments later, the junior quarterback ran another ...

40 years ago: October 23, 1974 – Coach Vern Gebhardt's high-flying East Union High gridders were slowed a bit last Friday night at Sonora High but still managed to come from behind and nail down a bruising 14-7 decision over a fired-up pack of Wildcats. Halfback Dana Taylor slanted off tackle for three yards and a touchdown to give the Lancers the winning margin early in the final quarter. Doug Swift had scored the first EU tally on a one-yard smash with just over nine minutes remaining in the second period. The East Union defense, led by Mario Silveira and ...

Fifty years ago, on September 18, 1964, rolling up an impressive 273 yards on the ground, Manteca High rolled to a convincing 31-18 win over Downey High of Modesto in the season opener for both clubs. Defensive back John Tubbs intercepted a first-quarter Downey pass and rambled unmolested for 57 yards to the end zone for the first Buffalo score. In the second period, Manteca's all-league tackle, 222-pound Rod Elam, picked a Knight fumble out of the air and ran 15 yards to score. The final MHS score of the first half came when Bob Silva raced 40 yards ...

Sixty years ago, on September 16, 1954, Manteca High put on the final polishing touches to their offense as they readied themselves for their season football opener against Hayward High Saturday night at Pennebaker Field. Coach Pete Denevi is counting on back Monte Kinsley for a valuable few yards. He has shown well in practice and, with a year's experience under his belt, could develop into one of the league's best fullbacks. Others showing well during the past week were guards Ed Morley and Ed Abatangle.

One hundred years ago, on August 17, 1914, the Battery C team from Stockton, with "Gus" Brock as pitcher were lined up as opponents to the Merchants. Free watermelons, a gift from Mr. Powers, and though much appreciated, did not draw many to the game. The game went into the tenth inning, when the Merchants got the deciding run and won a hard-fought game by a 5 to 4 score. Elmer Blodgett pitched the first six innings for our team and Lagorio took over for the final four innings. An attempt to water the diamond previous to the game was ...

Thirty years ago, on August 7, 1984, the Manteca slow-pitch all-star softball team proved that their lopsided victory last week was no fluke as they pounded out 31 hits,including four home runs, en route to an easy 27-6 win over the Tracy all-stars at Northgate Park. Larry Starkey clubbed a three-run homer and a two-run shot, both in the third inning. Starkey also had two singles on the night to wind up with four hits and six RBI. Pitcher Darren Swift was named MVP of the game as he had three hits, scored three runs and scattered 12 Tracy ...

Thirty years ago, on August 2, 1984, Manteca's teenage golf standout, Kevin Wentworth, will be back on the fairways today and tomorrow trying his luck in the Salinas Junior Tournament at the Salinas Country Club. The Manteca High sophomore-to-be is coming off his two best performances in Junior golf competition. Last weekend, he claimed his first-ever overall championship in Modesto and followed that up by taking his second overall title four days later in Sacramento. After his Salinas stop, the 15 year-old will move on to the Las Positas Junior next Monday and Tuesday in Livermore. Wentworth is second ...

Twenty years ago, on July 2, 1994, the Manteca Babe Ruth 13 year-old all-stars came alive to capture the District 1 championship at Ripon High on Saturday. Coach Ron Kackley's boys exploded for 10 early runs en route to a14-10 victory over Modesto. The win qualifies the local squad for the Central California State Tournament which starts in Lompoc on July 13. Troy Vick and Rich Rocha each had three hits, including one double apiece, to pace the Manteca attack. Rocha drove in four runs.

Ninety years ago, on June 8, 1924, the Manteca High baseball team was defeated by a score of 13 to 4 by Sacramento High in the semi-finals for the Northern California interscholastic baseball championship. The defeat was quite a blow to the local aggregation as it invaded the northern field with high hopes of winning. In defeating Benicia High a few days previous, the local boys proved they were championship material.

Forty years ago, on May 20, 1974, the 1974 prep baseball season came to an appropriately thunderous and dramatic end for the two local schools when Manteca High rode home on a prodigious two-run homer by Dan Vogel in the bottom of the eighth inning. The blow gave the Buffaloes a 2-1 win over East Union High and the Valley Oak League championship spot. The Lancers had edged into a 1-0 lead in the top of the extra inning on a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt by Paul Hayashino with the bases loaded, scoring Darrell Hardcastle. The Buffs finished the league season ...

Thirty years ago, on May 7, 1984, the Manteca High golf team turned in one of its finest 18-hole team performances in school history to capture the South Sub-section championship at Stockton's Van Buskirk Park and qualify for the Section playoffs next week. Paced by sophomore Joe Head's medalist performance, the Valley Oak League champion Buffaloes compiled a fine team round of 383 and buried Merced High by 18 strokes to win the school's second Sub-section crown in four years.

Thirty years ago, on April 23, 1984, Kevin Cimoli and Tony Perez were both triple winners and the Manteca High track team captured first-place finishes in 10 of the 16 events to capture its first-ever Valley Oak League dual meet championship. MHS also streaked to a win in the girls' division. The Lady Buffs, led by four-time winners Carri Nepote, Joyce Spradlin and Cheri Nepote, captured a 93-34 win. Cimoli won the 120 high hurdles, the discus and the shot put on a day of strong winds. Perez, only a sophomore, won the mile and the 880 and anchored the ...

50 years ago: April 27, 1964 – Adverse weather conditions hampered the winning times but failed to slow the Manteca High track team in Sonora as the Buffaloes romped to a win over the Wildcats in a VOL meet. Manteca junior Bruce Fisher broke the MHS high jump mark with a leap of 6-2. Bob Silva was a double winner for the Buffs as he captured the 100 and the 220.

Articles by Section - Sports History

Eighty years ago, on February 14, 1935, Jim Barber of Manteca, one of the country's outstanding football stars, signed a contract with the Boston Braves, professional eleven, for the coming season. He expects to join the team in August, but before doing so is expected to play one game with the Chicago Tribune team. The Manteca boy was captain of the University of San Francisco eleven during the past season and was mentioned in numerous mythical All-American teams.